Men Finish Fifth, Women 10th At Fighting Bee Invitational
DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Clarke University track and field program concluded the Fighting Bee Invitational with two event wins and two individual NAIA qualifying times on Saturday to wrap up a successful weekend.
The men's team placed fifth out of the 15-team field with 45 team points, while the women took 10th with 24.5 team points. Each team won an event over the course of the two-day event.
James Vandun stood out in the heptathlon, winning the event with a personal best point total of 4,295. The Racine, Wis., native won the long jump (20' 10"/6.35m), 60-meter hurdles (9.11), and the 1000-meter race (2:50.01) en route to his first collegiate victory in the event. Vandun's 4,295 points in the heptathlon broke the program record for total points in the event and are a NAIA B qualifying mark that stands as the 15th-best point total in the group.
Teammate Timothy Miller finished second in the heptathlon with a career best 4,000 points. Miller won the shot put (34' 2.25"/10.42m), high jump (5' 7.25"/1.71m), and pole vault (12' 3.25"/3.74m) sections of the event. Miller and Vandun also competed in the pole vault, where they finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Noah Church took fifth place in the 3000-meter race walk with a time of 15:32.45, which broke the Clarke University school record and gives him a NAIA B qualifying time. It was just the second indoor race walk Church has competed indoors in his career. His time stands as the 10th-fastest in the NAIA B standard group.
Emma Grant continued to impress in the pole vault, as the freshman has now made it four-straight meets placing in the top three of the event to start off her collegiate career. Grant took the pole vault after clearing 10' 6" (3.2m), setting another personal best in the event.
Kole Haverly ran 2:42.87 in the 1000-meter and 2:03.15 in the 800-meter, marks that each are new personal bests for the freshman out of Anamosa. Sage Hoyt placed fourth in the high jump after clearing 5' 8" (1.73m). Hoyt also ran in and earned personal bests in the 60-meter (7.96) and 400-meter (59.07).
Claire Ronnebaum was runner-up in the 5000-meter race with a time of 19:49.10, while teammate Rory Bickler finished third with a time of 19:49.21, giving the sophomore a new personal best in the event. Mariana Mercado placed 10th in the 3000-meter race after running for a personal best time of 12:35.71.
Sydney Normal took eighth in the high jump finals with a mark of 4' 9" (1.45m). Addie Hickey was the top Clarke performer in the weight throw after throwing for a personal best mark of 43' 4.5" (13.22m), placing her 14th overall. In the women's shot put, Samantha Kane finished 17th after throwing for 34' 11.25" (10.65m).
Up Next
The Pride are back on the road next weekend for the Tiger Quad Meet in Bourbonnais, Ill.
Results – Men
200 Meters
55. David Jones - 25.88
57. Sage Hoyt - 25.92
400 Meters
34. David Jones - 57.87
36. Sage Hoyt - 59.07
800 Meters
6. Kole Haverly - 2:03.15
1000 Meters
5. Kole Haverly - 2:42.87
3000 Meters
26. Brennan Shelton - 11:14.29
5000 Meters
20. Emmett Schwartzhoff – 17:50.34
3000 Meter Race Walk
5. Noah Church – 15:32.45 (NAIA B Qualifying Time)
High Jump
4. Sage Hoyt – 5' 8" (1.73m)
Pole Vault
4. Timothy Miller – 11' 11.75" (3.65m)
5. James Vandun – 11' 5.75" (3.5m)
Triple Jump
8. Blake Willis – 37' 9.25" (11.51m)
Shot Put
34. Ben Blackburn – 36' 5.75" (11.12m)
Heptathlon
1. James Vandun – 4,295 pts. (NAIA B Qualifying Mark)
2. Timothy Miller – 4,000 pts.
Results – Women
Mile
18. Lydia Radeke – 6:25.66
3000 Meters
10. Mariana Mercado – 12:35.71
5000 Meters
2. Claire Ronnebaum – 19:49.10
3. Rory Bickler – 19:49.21
High Jump
8. Sydney Norman – 4' 9" (1.45m)
Pole Vault
1. Emma Grant – 10' 6" (3.2m)
Shot Put
17. Samantha Kane – 34' 11.25" (10.65m)
24. Marlie Beauchem – 32' 7" (9.93m)
34. Addie Hickey – 29' 10.25" (9.10m)
36. Drew Fox – 28' 7" (8.71m)
43. Paige Sparrow – 23' 8.25" (7.22m)
Weight Throw
14. Addie Hickey – 43' 4.5" (13.22m)
17. Samantha Kane – 41' 6.5" (12.66m)
18. Marlie Beauchem – 41' 3.25" (12.58m)
22. Drew Fox – 39' 3.72" (11.98m)
40. Paige Sparrow – 28' 2.75" (8.6m)
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